Fodor's reserves the right to remove threads. But on what basis do they make their decision? Threads started over 2.5 years ago, that contain more flames that fact, have been allowed to continue. However, recent testimony from a person that lives on an island has been remove.<BR><BR>My opinion of Fodor's as a reputable travel authority went down the tubes with this one. I can accept the flames and praise written by individuals, as they are always taken with a grain of salt. However, when an organization whose business is travel takes such action clearly demonstrates their biasness and lack of abilities.

Chris,<BR><BR>See ya later then. B'bye!

You were correct with the bye. The point you are missing is that if you visit other travel boards, you find you can get more useful information on those boards.<BR><BR>The people who have the useful information to share for the most part no longer wish to deal with the childish behavior that takes place on this board.<BR>

For what it's worth, I believe testimony from someone who lives there can often times be biased. People, instinctively, will defend their country.

What are some other travel boards that are good? I am only familiar with Fodors and traveltalkonline.com<BR><BR>Thanks!

Traveltalkonline is censored garbage run by a nudist and his wife. Post something negative and it magically disappears! I saw a post asking about bias -- it too was deleted. If you want only Orient-Beach-head-in-the-sand perspective, by all means, go for it.

For hotel evaluations<BR>go to www.caribbeanopinion.com<BR><BR>Frommers www.frommers.com<BR>This will probably be deleated by the Fodor's Police.

Allison,<BR><BR>Here are two other boards that are very informative:<BR><BR>http://www.gobeach.com/sxm/<BR><BR>http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/sm/smforum.shtml<BR><BR>James,<BR><BR>You are incorrect about TTOL. The posts are not deleted, they are simply lock that no one can continuing posting on them when they get out of hand.

James,<BR><BR>A nudist!!! Well that explains everything. Talk about a head-in-the-sand attitude.

Posts on TTOL are deleted and threads are locked when a monitor chooses to do so if it is not a post by the tight group of belongers there. The info on TTOL is suspect as there are many posters there who submit reports but are advertising their own properties or establishments/businesses. That is a long standing problem. The recent locking of the Biras thread leaves a very negative review in place from a visit a year ago yet when others tried to discuss it, the thread was locked. Yet long threads that go forever about Long Bay are allowed to stand if the majority of the posts remain positive. A certain monitor will also post inaccurate and outdated information on one of the other boards on that site and is offended if taken to task or corrected and posts removed that correct him/her. I don't know that he is a nudist or not - are control freaks nudists? Those who post occassionally and communicate other ways often refer to this character at the board nazi. Should we also say he is the neked board nazi?

Most of the boards, specially those that have forums specific to one island, do a ton of censorship. After all, they would lose their fan and/or advertising base if the "feelgood" experience that many want gets too big a reality check. I think fodors is a refreshing change from some of those boards even though it also has many of the same issues like censorship, spam, etc. They have right to run the board any way they want, it's free. This thread might be edited or removed, but it's their right to do that. You have more freedom here than most other boards.

The TTOL nekkid board nazi removes negative posts or posts that question the impartiality of the board. We're not talking about censoring profanity or violent language -- TTOL censors negative posts, regardless of their truth. And heaven forbid someone mentions crime -- DELETED. <BR><BR>Yes, TTOL is a tight little group of losers. Don't invade their space, or face their wrath. <BR>

Say what you will about TTOL, but before my trip to St. Martin last summer I read their site, and this one. TTOL had much more specific information on restaurants, rental cars, clubs, hotels and casinos than Fodors. Everyone was always pleasant and helpful. The most I could get out of Fodors was an ancient story about an alleged gang rape and "nudie bashing". So I ask you - if you're looking for legitimate St. Martin travel information who are you going to trust, the TTOL people or the misfits who frequent here?

Thanks for the info. I asked on TToL for lunch info and the only real suggestion came from someone who suggested a restaurant on Orient Beach but that I would be dining with unclothed people. Not my idea of a fun time nor fine dining (and what happens if the soup is hot and it drips! LOL) and figured there had to be other places and there were but not from the TToL group! Fodor's board does have good info most of the time and some posters are especially helpful. Those that aren't you just yawn and pass on by!

Must've been a bad day or maybe they could tell you were up to no good.

Anon:<BR><BR>For excellent food, try La Vie en Rose in the French St. Maarten.<BR><BR>Ana

For Jamaica: http://www.jamaicans.com/cgi-bin/ult...cgi?category=3 <BR><BR>For Negril, this one is good: www.negril.com<BR><BR>There's definitely a balancing act to do, keeping trolls and flamers from ruining hte board for all and censoring vald info. I moderate one of those above and it's a fine line. However, the first one requires that you register yourself and that does cut down on the junk some, esp anonymous postings and people impersonating others.<BR><BR>I also visit lonelyplanet.com from time to time, their board is pretty informative and covers the world with a section for the Caribbean.<BR><BR Liz

Hey folks,<BR><BR>This thread was not intended to bash TTOL, it was to question Fodors' responsibility as travel representatives. They are deleting threads that counter threads that are far more biased and deflamatory than the ones they deleted.<BR><BR>Get back on track.

Being monitor must be a heck of a juggling act but then does the Fodor's board come under the 1st Amendment since it is international in nature? Sorry, Jane, wasn't aware that Fodor's had pulled threads!!

A lot of people want to villify the trolls and flamers, but often they are just trolling and flaming the POSERS, the ones who are here posing as tourists but actually have some financial interest of some kind. A lot of trolls are on a mission to point out the posers, so are doing the board good. So much of what you see on boards like this is motivated by financial interests of one type or other - spam, fake trip reports, setup questions, etc. But since most people don't realize it's fake, there isn't much outrage. Much of the "legitimate" travel info is created to generate interest in places and products. So no need to overreact to conflicts of opinion that also occur. The strength of fodors is that we can compare islands, whereas if you mention another island on a specialty board you will often be attacked and learn nothing.